Bottom ironer



y 4, 1963 M. DZlKl 3,089,165

BOTTOM IRONER Filed May 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MIECZYSLAW DZIK/\ May 14, 1963 M. DZIKI 3,089,165

BOTTOM IRONER Filed May 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. M/ECZYSLAW DZIK/ BY f ATTORNEY.

May 14, 1963 M. DZlKl 3,089,165

BOTTOM IRONER Filed May 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. M/ECZYSLAW DZ/Kl ATTORNEY DZ] Kl OTTOM IRONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IFIG.5

INVENTOR, M/ECZYSLAW DZ/K BY ATTORNE y 1963 M. DZlKl 3,089,165

BOTTOM IRONER Filed y 9, 62 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. M/ECZYSLAW DZ/K/ ATTORNEY 3,tl89,165 BDTTOM HRONER Mieczyslaw Dzilri, Dorchester, Mass., assignor to Industrial Shoe Machinery Corp., Roxbury, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 9, 1962, Ser. No. 193,494 8 Claims. ((11. 12-535) This invention relates to a bottom ironer used in the manufacture of shoes to iron out the wrinkles on the bottom margin of a shoe upper to which the innersole has been attached.

One object of this invention is to provide a bottom ironer which is rapid and easy to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a bottom ironer which can be used with either right or left shoes.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a bottom ironer which can be used with the complete range of heel heights, from very high heel shoes to shoes having very low heels.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow and from the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of this invention, with a part of the two vertical posts 12, 13 the hood 96 and the upper frame 94 cut away so as to permit a view of other portions of the machine which are otherwise hidden.

FIG. 2 is a view of a selected portion of a left side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1 showing a lasted shoe of the high heel type in position. For clarity the vertical post 12 has been omitted, certain portions sectioned, the springs 31, 76a, 76b and 95 only partially drawn, and the spring 31 also shown in the phantom position it has when the shoe is down.

FIG. 3 is a similar partial View as in FIG. 2, in this case showing a low heel or flattie shoe in position.

FIG. 4 is a front view along line 44- of FIG. 1 illustrating the toe heating blocks 56 and 57.

FIG. Sis a front view of the center lower portion of FIG. 1 showing a last mounted in position.

FIG. 6 is a partial rear view of the machine of FIG. 1 with rods 76 and 77, springs 77a, 77b, 76a, 7611, Vertical posts 12 and 13, and hood 96 partially cut away.

The invention comprises broadly a lower shoe support assembly vertically movable on the machine frame and an upper ctr-operating shoe ironing assembly held on the machine frame.

The movable shoe support assembly has a last-engaging pivotable pin member and a toe support mounted on opposite ends of a transverse bar which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame of the shoe support assembly. Both the pin member and the toe support are preferably adjustable to selected positions along the bar. The toeengaging portion of the toe support is preferably pivotable on the toe support.

The shoe ironing assembly is fixed and comprises a frame, a heel heating block and two toe heating blocks. The heel heating block is pivotable on a horizontal 1ongitudinal axis against a vertical spring. The front portion of each toe block is pivotable on a horizontal axis through the ends of a lower yoke. This lower yoke is part of an elongated member pivotable on an extension of the frame and to whose upper ends is connected a compression spring from the frame. On the rear of each toe heating block is pivotally mounted a somewhat vertically oriented pressure rod member. A bar is provided which spans central portions of the two pressure rod members and is connected thereto by universal joints 3,089,165, Patented May 14, 1963 ,ice

through which the rods project. Springs are mounted on the rods both below and above the universal joints.

The heating blocks preferably contain electric heating elements which can be connected to a suitable source of electric power. Attached to the bottom of each heating block are one or more resilient metal ironing plates. Exterior to these plates and mounted on the heel block only is a pair of resilient metal ironing plates extending from the rear of the heel block to the rear of the toe blocks and being of such width as to slightly overlap laterally.

In operation the shoe support assembly is raised by pneumatic, hydraulic or other means so as to cause the lasted shoe bottom to press against the heated plates and to hold the shoe in such position until the ironing is completed. During this pressure stage the exterior plates wipe inward to one another.

The appended drawings illustrate one embodiment of this invention. The base 11 is provided with two vertical posts 12 and 13 which serve both to support the various assemblies and to guide the lower, movable shoe supporting assembly in its vertical motion.

This lower movable assembly comprises a support member 15 having collar portions 15a and 15b slideable on posts 12 and 13 respectively. The center of member 15 is threaded onto the threading 14a of piston rod 14 and held in a selected position by locking nut 14b. The center portion of member 15 has a raised collar split into sides 15c and 15d. A shoe bar 16 fits between the collar portions and 15d and is pivotable on rod 17 held by cotter pins 17a and 1717 on either end.

The shoe bar 16 extends rearwardly and is provided with a front lengthwise slot 16a and a rear lengthwise slot 16b. A pair of plates 18 and 19 are held in a selected position along slot 1611 by bolt 20 and nut 20a. Between the plates 18 and 19 is a pin 21 held in position by cotter pins 21a and 21b. Pivotable on pin 21 is last pin assembly 23 holding last pin 160. Last pin is engagable with a hole in the heel section of a last on which the shoe is formed. A pair of plates 24 and 25 are held in a selected position along slot 16b by a bolt 30 which is loosened or tightened by a locking, pronged handle 29. Between plates 24 and 2.5 is a pin 28 held by cotter pins 28a and 2812. On pin 28 is pivotally mounted a toe support 26 having a top cushion 27. A tension spring 31 is connected to bar 16 at the rear and to a head 11a mounted on the frame 15. When a shoe in a last is mounted on the lower assembly the pin 16c engages a hole in the last while the toe of the shoe rests on cushion 27, the bottom of the shoe being upward. The assembly is raised and lowered by hydraulic or air means (not shown) in co-operation with the piston rod 14.

The upper assembly of this invention is fixed and supported on the vertical posts 12 and 13. The main frame 51 has two side collars 51a and 5112 which seat on posts 12 and 13 and are held by top locking bolts. Frame 51 has an upper portion 51 on which is connected an upper frame 94 and has a central forward extending portion 51c.

Frame portion 51c supports a depending vertical movable cylindrical block 52 by means of plate 52a and bolt 52!]. The lower end of block 52 has a vertical notch 52c across which rod 55 is mounted and pivotally supports heel heating block 54 by means of the plate-like vertical extension 54a. A compression spring 53 is spaced around rod 52 between the block 54 and the frame extension 51c and serves to apply downward pressure and to restore the heating block to a horizontal position.

Frame 51 has a rear extending yoke projection 51d on which rod 93 pivotally supports toe-block support member 92. Member 92 has at its rear end 92f, a pin 92g held by cotter pin 9211. A compression spring 95 connects rod 92g with upper frame 94 at bracket 94a and pin 9412 held by bolt 97. To the front lower end of member 92 is swivelably attached by bolt 92a, a yoke whose ends 92a and 92c pivotally engage respectively with the pivot supports 56c and 570 located on the inward forward portions of the toe blocks 56 and 57 respectively. The toe heating blocks also have outward, rearward yoke-like upper extensions 56a and 56b and 57a and 57b, holding pins 66 and 67 respectively. Pivoting on pins 66 and 67 is an assembly which serves to restore the position and apply pressure to the toe blocks and which comprises rods 76 and '77 pivoting on pins 66 and 67. Rod 76 passes through member 82 which in turn is pivotally joined at pin 31 to a yoke 78a-b whose rear end is pivotally attached by a screw 78@ to a rod 78, which in turn extends to rod 77 where similar connections exist. Below 82 and on rod 76 is a spring 76b while above 82 and on rod 76 is a spring 76a held in place by cotter pin 760. Similarly, rod 77 has lower spring 76b and upper spring 77a. A shoulder screw 78e goes through member '78, is threaded into 92 and permits swivelling of '78 on 92.

The heel heating block 54 and the toe heating blocks 56 and 57 contain electrical heating elements which are connected to the electrical supply box which in turn is connected to a source of electricity. Attached to the bottom of the heel block 54 with bolts 214, 215 and 216 and other similarly spaced bolts which do not appear on the particular views are five thin resilient steel plates 201, 202, 203 and 204- and cross-slotted resilient steel plate 295 which extend from the front of the block rearward beyond the block but short of contact with the two blocks. Plates 261 to 205 are sufficiently wide to accommodate the width of any shoe mem er to be engaged. Also attached to block 5e by bolts 214, 215 and 216 are thin resilient angularly slotted steel plates 2% and 207 which are situated below plate 291 so as to form the exterior or contacting surface and extend from the forward portion of block 54 to the rear portions of toe blocks 56 and 57. Plate 206 and plate 297 are both slightly wider than one-half the width of the plates 201 to 295 and overlap in the center so as to enhance the Wiping action. It should be noted that these exterior plates 206 and 207 are not attached or connected to either of the toe blocks but rest on the pair of resilient steel plates 298 and 2tl9 attached to the bottom of toe block 56 and resilient steel plates 210 and 211 attached to the bottom of the block 57.

As illustrated in the drawings the exterior plates 296 and 207 make the actual contact to the shoe bottom. Where a low heel shoe 41 is involved, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the toe blocks 56 and 57 adopt a somewhat flat position. Where a high heel shoe 42 is involved as in FIG. 2, the shape of the frontal portion of the shoe causes the toe blocks 56 and 57 to tilt so as to conform to the front sole portion. The toe block upper yokes 56a56b with their pivot pins 66 and 67 have their axes in a vertical plane beyond the toe of the shoe while the yoke 92a and b with pivot rod 91 has its axis in a vertical plane cutting a portion of the sole of the shoe. The toe blocks 56 and 57 can tilt or pivot to accommodate to the particular shape of the shoe and last. Spring 95 serves via pivotable member 92 to restore the toe blocks to the original position and apply pressure while the combination of springs 76a and b and 77a and b serve to apply pressure and keep the rear ends of the toe blocks down in original position. When the lower assembly is raised so as to place the shoe 42 with its inserted last 42a into engagement with the plate 206, not only do the springs 95, 76a, 76b, 77a and 77]) cause pressure to be applied through plate 206 onto the shoe, but also spring 53 provides pressure on the heel block although the motion of the heel block is relatively limited.

When the lower assembly is raised so as to engage the shoe with the moving plates 2% and 297, the heating blocks conform automatically to the planes of the shoe surfaces so that excellent heat-conductive contact is established. Further, the free ends of plates 206 and 287 wipe inwardly across one another when the pressure is applied, thus aiding in the bottom ironing operation.

It is obvious that many changes in details and construction may be made in the invention as described above without departing from the scope of this invention. Thus, for example, other resilient means such as pneumatic or hydraulic devices can be substituted for the springs. Further, the invention can be used, although less effectively, with one or more of the following changes:

(1) A non-pivotal shoe support.

(2) A single toe-heating block.

(3) Separate exterior resilient metal plates on toe block and heel block.

The scope of this invention is to be measured by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, and exterior resilient metal plate means attached only to said heel blocks but extending to the rear of said toe blocks.

2. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame and exterior resilient metal plate means attached only to said heel blocks but extending to the rear of said toe blocks, said shoe support member comprising a frame on which a last pin is adjustably mounted and a toe support is pivotally and adjustably mounted.

3. A shoe-b0ttom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame and exterior resilient metal plate means attached only to said heel blocks but extending to the rear of said toe blocks, there being additional resilient metal plate means between said exterior plate means and said heel block but not extending to said toe blocks and wherein there are also resilient metal plate means atttached to said toe blocks and not extending to said heel block.

4. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame and exterior resilient metal plate means attached only to said heel blocks but extending to the rear of said toe blocks, said plate means comprising two laterally overlapping plates each extending to the rear of said toe blocks but having a width larger than one-half but less than the full width of said heel block.

5. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame and exterior resilient metal plate means attached only to said heel blocks but extending to the rear of said toe blocks, each of said toe heating blocks having a resilient, pivotal frame connection on its front and on its rear. 1

6. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly comprising a frame on which is pivotally mounted a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, two toe-heating blocks, each toe block being pivotally supported at its front by a yoke which is pivotable on a first support means resiliently and pivotally mounted on said frame, each toe block being also pivotally supported at its rear by a second support means pivotally mounted on said first support means. I

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said second support means comprises a separate rod connected to each rear pivotal connection, a transverse member pivotally connected to said yoke, a separate block slideably mounted on each rod and connected by a universal joint to said transverse member, resilient means between each block and its corresponding pivotal connection and resilient means between each block and the end of its corresponding rod.

8. A shoe-bottom ironing device comprising a vertically movable shoe supporting assembly cooperable with a fixed heating assembly; said movable assembly containing a shoe support; said heating assembly comprising a frame, a heel heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, a toe-heating block pivotally and resiliently supported by said frame, and exterior resilient metal plate means supported by at least one of said blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,175,474 Lawson Oct. 10, 1935 3,023,436 Miller et a1. Mar. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 227,324 Australia Feb. 11, 1958 (Addition to No. 159,066) 

1. A SHOE-BOTTOM IRONING DEVICE COMPRISING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE SHOE SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY COOPERABLE WITH A FIXED HEATING ASSEMBLY; SAID MOVABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME ON WHICH IS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED A SHOE SUPPORT; SAID HEATING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME, A HEEL HEATING BLOCK PIVOTALLY AND RESILIENTLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, TWO TOE-HEATING BLOCKS PIVOTALLY AND RESILIENTLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, AND EXTERIOR RESILIENT METAL PLATE MEANS 